Means for and method of draining well tubing preparatory to pulling same



Dec, 9, 19.24.

` W. H. MCKISSICK MEANS FOR AND METHOD oF DRAINING WELL TUBING PREPARATORY To PULLING SAME Filed June 28 Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

'UNITI-:D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. McKISS-ICK, 0F TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

MEANS FOR AND METOD OF DRAINING WELL TUBING PBEPARATORY TO PULLING SAME.

Application filed .Tune 28, 1922. Serial No. 571,502.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM I-I. Mc- KIssICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Means for and Methods of Draining Well Tubing Preparatory to Pulling Same, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. v

This invention, like that constituting the subject matter of my Patent 1,442,960, Jan. 23, 1923, relates generally to apparatus for use in deep well operations, the p-resent invention having to do more particularly with the method of draining well tubing preparatory to pulling the same, and to improved means for practicing said method.

In the working of deep wells, such as oil wells, it becomes necessary at comparatively frequent intervals to p-ull the pump tubing for the purpose of repairs, as for the replacement of the `pump cups or pump valve, or the renewal of the standing valve. In the normal operation lof the pump, the

standing valve opens as the pump plstonv ascends, letting into the working barrel' and tubing a quantity of liquid according to the lift of the piston, and closes when the piston ceases to ascend and remains closed during its descending stroke. When it is desired to inspect` or repair the' parts above referred to, the string of sucker rods (which carries at its lower end the pump piston) is first withdrawn from the tubing,

and then the tubing is pulled. Now, un-.

less the liquid within the tubing is first drained back into thewell, it results in the loss of this liquid and in the saturation of the equipment, such as the bull ropes and belting. Furthermore, and very obviously, it takes considerably longer to pull wet tubing than tubing from which the liquid has been drained.

It is the fundamental purpose` of my invention to provide a comparatively simple method, and an efcient and particularly convenient vmeans for draining the liquid from the tubing prior to withdrawing it from the casing, eliminating the difficulties above set forth and Savin the liquid which is otherwise lost and avoi lng the great inwell casing, or until its lower end reaches` the fluid level, then unseating a valve situated at the lower end of the tubing, allowing the liquid that is within the tubing to drain back into the well on top 0f the liquid that has accumulated therein, thereby overcoming the possibility of causing a turmoil or commotion in the sand, an action to be carefully guarded against, as will be appreciated -by those acquainted with well work.

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In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated two embodiments of my invenltion as it pertains to the means for carrying out the foregoing method. Fig. 1 is alongitudinal sectional view through a working barrel equipped with a standing valve incorporating my invention and showing thereabove the pump piston; Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. l showing the pump piston removed'and a weight coacting with the standing valve in such manneroas to unseat it for draining purposes; and Fig. 3 shows a pump tubing equipped with another form of the draining means, the valve whereof is shown as unseated by a weight that has been dropped into the' tubing. A

In Figs. 1 and 2 the working barrel is designated 1, and this barrel is situated at the lower end of the pump tubing (not shown) in accordance with common practice. The working lbarrel is somewhat less in diameter than ,the tubing, the same having an internal diameter of approximately one and three-fourths inches when used with a two-inch internal diameter tubingl and to which it has connection through a suitable coupling. The barrel 1 has applied to its threaded lower end a shoe 2 which supports the standing valve assembly 3. This assembly comprises a tubular body 4 I ing for reasons already related, the piston which is shown as surrounded by compressi-ble material 5 which, in practice may consist of a plurality of leather was ers. The upper end of the bodyportion 4 is threaded v,for the application of a cage. 6 which re- )tains the ball valve 7 inoperative relation to the-valve seat incorporated in a member 8 that is clamped in place between the cage 6 and the body portion 4. The cage 6 is reduced in diameter at its upper end and terminates in a pin 10, and pivoted within the cage, upon a pintle 11, is a llever 12. vOrdinarily this lever reposes in the position shown in Fig. 1 with its lower end removed from the ball sp-ace of the cage, so that the ball 7 has freedom of movement, the llever being retained in such position through the weight of its enlarged upper end. Where the upper end of the leverprotrudes beyond one side of the reduced Yportion of the cage 6 it is inclined as shown at 13 to provide a cam sur for a purpose which I shall presently! explain. y

Operating within the barrel a suitable distance above the standing valve is a pump piston 15 of usual type, the same involving cups 16 anda ball check valve 17 that 1s confined within alcage 18. 0n the pin 19 of the piston'is screwed the lower en@ of a string of sucker rods by means of4 which the piston is reciprocated, the coupling of the lowermost rod being indicated at 20.

- When it becomes necessary to pull the tub- 15, by means of the sucker rods, is withdrawn from the barrel into the larger diameter tubing and thence upwardly through the tubing from which it is finally removed, Q leaving in the tubing'and barrel lthe column of liquid that was .being elevated by the npump.` The tubing is then raised until its lower end reaches the fluid level within the well, as hereinbefore explained, and in a 'manner which will be readily understood by those familiar with deep well operations, and a tubular weight 25 is then dropped into y the tubing. The weight descends therein be readily pulled.

, (the liquid passing through `the bore of the weight during the descent) until it reaches the lower end of the barrel and engages over the upper end of the standin valve assembly and strikes the cam sur ace 13 of the lever 12, rocking-the lever upon its pivotto lthe position shown in Fig. 2, causing the lower end of the lever to lift the ball 7 off its seat which allows the liquid to flow back into the well. The empty tubing may now The foregoing form of `the` invention, which provides for a 'complete draining of the tubin to the very bottom ofthe working barre is adapted for use where there is practically no sand present in the oil. It

is found, however, thatwith many wells a conslderable amount of sand is pumped into the tubing with the' liquid. and then when it is desired to pull the tubing the sand settles down about the standing valve and makes it impossible to trip the ball thereof as in the foregoing embodiment.

The form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 3 is adaptedto situations where sand enters the tubing with the liquid. According to the present form of the invention I provide a drain valve which may be placed anywhere within the tubing, say 50 to 100 feet above the pump, depending upon the pro ortions of sand and liquid.

In Fig.` 3, separated sections of the tubing are designated 30 and 31 and to the lower end of -the former section is screwed the casing member 32 of my drain valve within an offset 33 whereof is pivoted, upon a pin 34, a trigger 35 which is adapted to engage and remove from its seat the ball valve 36, the trigger being normally held away. from vthe ball by means of its Aweighted end 37, the normal positionv of the trigger being indicated indotted lines.. A seat for the ball 36 is shown as-provide'd by the inner end of a tube 38 that isthreaded upwardly through a tap ed hole in the lower side of the olset 33. l crewed into the lower end of the casing 3 2, in axial alignment with the tubing section 30, is a nipple 40. The internal diameter of this nipple is somewhat less` than that'of the tubing, it being rfound that a nipple which is 1% inches inside diameter is suitable for use with the standard two inch.'

internal diameter tubing. The upper end of the nipple, therefore, `constitutes a shoulder 41 that is a slight distance below y i able distance below this point.

`In the use of this form of the invention, after the pump piston has been withdrawn, the tubing is elevated until the drain valve is at about the fluid -level within thewell, w en a tubular weight 45 is ldropped 'into the tubing, the weightdescendin therein until it engages the shoulder 41.` en in this position, the. weight retains the trigger 35 in the full line position whereinv it engages the ball 36 to hold it oi its seat, allowing 1 the liquid within the tubing to drain back into the well. The. weight 45 is of a diameter between the internal diameters of the nip le and tubing, so that it will be sustained ythe shoulder 41, and leave ample pulling it, as naturally the work'lis to 1000 feet of 2 tubing and approximately'` 9 barrels of oil to 1000 feet of 3 tubing, and that oil wells of from three to four thousand feet deep are not uncommon. From this it will be seen how much more work is imposed upon the rigging in pulling wet tubing than in pulling tubing from which the oil has been drained. One is also reminded of the great loss of oil incident to the pulling of wet tubing. Also, much time is saved by draining the tubing before greatly hampered by the presence of the oil. l

I would also call attention to the fact that my invention is applicable to standard practice, and should not be confused with drainl. ing means :for pumpsmadel necessary by special equipment involving tubular pump rods, liquid sealed pump pistons, etc., and wherein no provision .is made for draining the tubing proper preparatory to pulling it.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: e

l. In combination with well tubing wherein a pump piston is adapted to'operate, a standing valve situated at the lower end of said tubing, means associated with said valve for unseating it, a part shielding said means from contact by the piston should the latter be depressed into engagement with the standing valve, yand a mem-- ber adapted to be lowered into the tubing upon the withdrawal therefrom of the piston for engaging and actuating said 'means thereby to unseat the standing valve and y allow the liquid in the tubing to drain back into the well.

2. In combination with well tubing within which a pump piston is adapted to operate, a valve situated at the lower end of said tubing, a lever pivotally supported in operative relation to said valve and ladapted when swung on its pivot to unseat the valve, and a member adapted to be lowered into the tubing upon the withdrawal therefrom of the piston and designed to engage and rock said lever Yon its pivot.

3. In combination with well tubingwithin which/a pump piston is adapted to opersignature.

lowered into the tubing upon the withdrawal therefrom of the piston and designed to engage and rock said lever on its pivot.

4. In combination with standard well tubing of the class described within which a pump piston is adapted to operate, a standing valve situated at the lower end of said tubing, a lever pivotally supported in oper-- ative relation to said valve and' adapted when swung in a given direction to unseat the valve, said lever having a cam portion, and a member adapted to be lowered into the tubing upon the .withdrawal therefrom of the piston and arranged to engage the cam portion of said lever and swing the same in the direction to unseat the standing valve.

5. In combination with'standard well tubing within which a pump piston is adapted to operate, a standin valve situated at the lower end of said tubing, a lever pivotally supported. in operative relation to said valve and adapted when swung ina given direction to unseat the valve, said lever having a cam portion, and a member adapted to be lowered into the tubing upon the with- In testimony whereof, I hereunto a my WILLIAM H. MCKIssIoK. 

